Rem 700, 7mm Rem Mag Re-Build, Pt 1

So I just finished re-barreling my Remington 700. It "used to be" chambered in 300 RUM, 30" Hart Barrel and Shrewd Muzzle Brake. It never really performed better than 1 MOA (sure that's not THAT bad, but being a little obsessive and owning other "tack-drivers," I couldn't handle it any more ).

So after 5 years of playin with it I up and ordered a 28" Broughton in 7mm. I did all the machine work, chambering, etc. myself...(first time I've attempted the process solo, but don't worry the "expert" was close by ) and yesterday just loaded up some 66, 67, 68, and 69 gr Retumbo loads with 180 gr Bergers to try out tomorrow (snow permitting). I'll keep ya posted on how it shoots! Keep your fingers crossed!

Attached Thumbnails - Click to View Larger

__________________
-Clint

-The flexibility of your adaptability is the true measure of your intelligence-

Nice rifle. Can't wait to hear how it shoots. What are the load components your using? Brass, primer, into/away from lands?

I just got my hands on some of the 180 hybrids to try. They are shooting around 2960 out of my 26" lilja 9t. They held 1/2moa at 500yards test. They were 5 thou off at an oal length of 3.52". No pressure or nothing. Another member brentc is getting some pretty good numbers from his 28" barrel also.

Nice rifle. Can't wait to hear how it shoots. What are the load components your using? Brass, primer, into/away from lands?

I just got my hands on some of the 180 hybrids to try. They are shooting around 2960 out of my 26" lilja 9t. They held 1/2moa at 500yards test. They were 5 thou off at an oal length of 3.52". No pressure or nothing. Another member brentc is getting some pretty good numbers from his 28" barrel also.

Keep us posted

Nice! hope this one does as good...
I'm starting with Reminton brass (they were free ), Federal Gold Medal Match Magnum Primers, bullets are just under 0.010" off the lands.

How much and what kind of powder you using? if I may ask...

__________________
-Clint

-The flexibility of your adaptability is the true measure of your intelligence-

Ya for sure...im using 69gr of h1000 with the 180 hybrids in win brass with f215m primers. This load was right at .5moa at 500. And i could prob push it to 70 grains as im not getting pressure signs yet. But they shot good here so ill leave it.

Previous to trying those i was and still am going to shoot the 168 vld around 10 thou off with 70gr h1000 and same primer and casings. They are moving in the 3050 fps range and that is a verified velocity with no pressure also. I could run them higher to i think but again they shoot great there.

I will test the hybrids out on some yotes and deer to see how they do. But i think Broz said he trusted them so if they hold out to a grand ill switch once i run out of the 168s. And ive got a lot of 168s.

Now im not sure how your chamber is but if its throated long you should be able to push the envelope with retumbo in a 28" barrel and still have good brass life. From everything ive read you can use 1-2 extra grains of retumbo compare to h1000. And retumbo really seems to come together once it gets to a top end load just shy of max to give decent ES and SD.

I am planning on building a 7mm magnum. I am leaning toward the 7mm Weatherby chamber to get a longer neck so I can partially size and still have some left to hold long bullets.

I have experience with the 7mm Remington in Howa and Model 70 actions. I found the factory barrels were throated long and the magazines limiting. I always wanted to seat the bullets out further than the magazines (3.65 and 3.60 respectively) allow.

What about magazine length with the 180 Bergers? What would you like to seat to if the magazine allowed? How far off the lands are you? Would the 175 Bergers at a higher velocity give a flatter trajectory?

I plan to use VihtaVuori N-570 powder. Retumbo will get within about 60 fps in 6.5 WSM with 140gr.

I bought 8 pounds of H-1000 when at that time Bruce Hodgdon brought it out. His plan was to provide a powder for 160 gr bullets in the 7mm Rem Mag. His original data showed 72 gr as max and several of us tried but found that unobtainable. After a phone call that Bruce took, I went back to Reloader 22 in place of H-1000 in the 7mm Remington and .264 Winchester. I was disappointed in the velocity. I gave it to some guys at the range I didn't like.